Exploring the Upper Amazon

Upon arriving at the airport, a team from Crucero Amazonas will welcome you to the city of Iquitos. A bus will transport you to the boarding port, where you will board an auxiliary boat that will take you to spend the next eight days at your home away from home on board the Crucero Amazonas.

Once on board, settle into your room. Then, head to the third deck for the captain's and crew's welcome and a brief explanation of safety and evacuation protocols. As you begin your journey from the Nanay River to the Amazon River in the direction of Tamshiyacu, take a tour of the ship's common areas. As you navigate, the team will talk about the variety of highly nutritious fruits that the Amazon offers, rich in protein, fiber, iron, and vitamins, such as the Breadfruit Tree, camu camu, aguaje, macambo, aguaymanto, Cocona, passion fruit, lúcuma, coffee, cocoa, etc. To kick off this tropical fruit lesson, try a refreshing passion fruit sour as you settle into your new home. 

The onboard chef and his team will pamper your palate with an exquisite gastronomic experience, using ingredients that the Amazon pantry provides, depending on the season.

The Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Communal Reserve is an excellent location to see wildlife and plants in their native environments. Upon the ships arrival, prepare to go on an excursion in Tamshiyacu Creek in search of local species of birds, monkeys, sloths, caimans, fish, and dolphins. Be sure not to miss the beauty of your first evening's sunset in the Amazon. Overnight in Tamshiyacu.

The journey continues along the Amazon River as a buffet-style breakfast is served. Departure is scheduled for approximately 8 a.m.

By mid-morning, the bartender will be available on the third deck with fruit refreshments and cocktails inspired by the Amazon rainforest.

After lunch and upon arrival at the next destination, board the skiff to explore the calm black waters of the Yarapa River. Along the way, look for swallows, songbirds, piprites, black-necked falcons, monkeys, and sloths.

The route includes a visit to the Breadfruit Tree (Artocarpus altilis), locally called “Pandisho.” Its neutral-tasting fruit is a food staple for communities along the river, and its resin is traditionally applied to the skin to treat wounds and tumors.

Later in the afternoon, observe a remarkable natural phenomenon—the meeting of the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers. These mighty waterways merge to form the Amazon River. The sounds of rushing water, fluttering swallows, and chattering parrots create an unforgettable display of the rainforest's vitality. Overnight on the Yarapa River.

After breakfast, board the skiff for a visit to Puerto Miguel, followed by a journey to a waterway connecting the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers. This area is home to the Amazon Victoria Lily, the largest of all water lilies, which thrives in the shallow tributaries of the Amazon River.

This red Amazonian fruit, Camu Camu, is known for its extremely high vitamin C content and antioxidant properties. It supports stress reduction, helps counteract free radicals, and may aid in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

In the afternoon, take a guided tour of San Jose de Paranapuras to explore local Amazonian products. Then, walk through a primary forest with towering trees, continuing toward a lagoon where the Shansho, a prehistoric bird species, can often be seen.

Later, visit Our Lady of Paranapuras, a settlement founded in 1652 by Father Figueroa near the "salinas de peña." This natural salt deposit has long been used for trade and remains important today for both culinary and therapeutic uses. Overnight in Nauta.

This morning, after breakfast, take a tour of the town of Nauta to meet the riverside inhabitants. In the local market, you can learn about fish species and Amazonian fruits.

Legend has it that Nauta was established on April 30, 1830, by the Kukama chief Manuel Pacaya Irarica. Officially, it was founded in 1930. It is an important point for local communities because this is where they sell their crops, and also because it connects them with Iquitos, the capital of the department.

Today, you will learn about cocona, a fruit that grows in the tropical areas of the Peruvian Amazon. It is a delicious citrus fruit, reddish-yellow in color. Its high content of vitamin C allows for easy iron absorption. Also, it contains carbohydrates, iron, calcium, carotene, and phosphorus.

Board the auxiliary boat to take an excursion through Nauta Caño, part of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Nauta Caño is known as the forest of mirrors because incredible and beautiful sunsets and natural scenes are reflected in the black waters of the cochas and the flooded forest. You will have the opportunity to observe wildlife such as squirrels, monkeys, toucans, macaws, iguanas, birds, dolphins, and caimans. Overnight in Nauta Caño.

After breakfast, take a guided walk through Fundo Casual, a tropical forest managed by local residents. This area is home to a variety of wildlife, including tarantulas, rainbow boas, sloths, anacondas, and poison frogs. Locally made handicrafts crafted from wood and other natural materials will be available for purchase.

Aguaje is the focus of today’s featured fruit. Rich in phytoestrogens—compounds with anti-cancer properties—it helps combat breast, colon, and prostate tumors. It is also one of the most vitamin A-rich foods in the world. Aguaje plants store significant amounts of carbon, making them vital for climate change mitigation.

After lunch, set out for an excursion along the Yanayacu River, a blackwater tributary within the Pacaya Samiria Natural Reserve. Wildlife sightings may include macaws, squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, pink and gray dolphins, paiches, and black and white caimans.

Before nightfall, explore the Pucate River in search of caimans, nocturnal birds, anacondas, and to witness the vivid colors of the sunset reflected over the water. Staying into the evening offers the chance to hear the sounds of the jungle after dark. Overnight in Yanayacu Pucate.

After breakfast, visit Las Palmas, a village surrounded by tropical beauty and rich biodiversity. The visit includes demonstrations of traditional hunting tools such as the blowgun, spear, and bow. Lizards and sloths may also be spotted in the area.

Today’s focus is on aguaymanto and lucuma, two fruits native to Peru and grown in the coastal and Andean regions. Aguaymanto is high in vitamin C and recognized as a superfood due to its antioxidants and nutrients. It supports wound healing, boosts the immune system, increases red blood cell production, and helps delay aging. The lucuma tree, native to the Andes, is rich in fiber, antioxidants, beta-carotene, vitamins, and minerals. These nutritional qualities were highly valued during the Inca Empire, where lucuma was seen as a symbol of fertility. Artifacts dating back to 200 AD, including ceramics depicting lucuma, have been discovered in sacred tombs.

Board the auxiliary boat to explore the black water stream known as Shiriyacu and try fishing for piranhas. The excursion continues to Pahuashiro, a small tributary of the Marañón River, where birds and monkeys may be observed. This scenic area also offers ideal conditions for photographing the sunset.

Begin the return to Iquitos. It will be a long navigation during which guests are encouraged to relax and enjoy the journey. An interesting activity will take place on board: a tasting of macerated drinks and cocktails prepared with regional ingredients and fruits. Guests will also enjoy sampling various varieties of the country’s emblematic drink, learn about its history and origin, and then participate in the preparation of the pisco sour.

Discussion will focus on the paiche, a giant Amazonian fish rich in omega-3, 6, and 9. Overfishing once threatened its survival and disrupted the food chain by putting pressure on substitute species. To protect the species, a periodic fishing ban allows adult paiche to reproduce and juvenile fish to mature, contributing to population growth. Males build nests and care for the young fry.

In the afternoon, board the auxiliary boat to explore the Tahuayo River. Along the route, observe swallows, tropical songbirds, piprites, black-necked falcons, and sloths. Upon arrival, guests can try fishing for piranhas and other local species. After dinner, gather on the third deck to enjoy a memorable farewell cocktail.

Breakfast will be served later than usual to allow for additional rest.

On the third deck, the bartender will be available with fruit refreshments, wine, beer, cocktails, and spirits inspired by the Amazon rainforest, offering a final taste of the region as the journey nears its end.

Afterward, disembarkation will take place at the tourist port, where a bus will be waiting for the transfer to the airport. A guide will be on hand to provide any needed assistance through the boarding process for the return flight to Lima. Wishing a safe journey ahead after this unforgettable Amazon adventure.

Note: The itineraries and programs may vary depending on the climate, water level of the river, or migratory cycle of the animals. Therefore, the navigation route, schedules, and excursions may need to be modified at the guide’s or cruise captain’s discretion. The visit to the native communities is an excellent way to contribute to their development since the villagers have the opportunity to sell their one-of-a-kind handicrafts. There is no commitment, but if you are planning on buying a gift or souvenir, please bring some cash with you.